Are Old English Sheepdogs good in hot weather?

How Old English Sheepdogs handle the heat

The cooling problem

Old English Sheepdogs cool themselves through normal panting without the added handicap of a flat face or a heavy northern coat. A healthy dog of this type manages typical UK summers without much drama.

Practical summer management

Shift walks to early morning and late evening, and skip them entirely on the hottest days. Carry water on every outing, provide deep shade in the garden, and give access to cool floors indoors. The pavement test is simple: press the back of your hand to the ground for seven seconds, and if it is too hot for your hand it is too hot for paws.

Never leave any dog in a parked car, conservatory, or caravan, even briefly and even with a window open. Interior temperatures climb to lethal levels within minutes.

Exercise in warm weather

Old English Sheepdogs have high energy, which is the trap in summer. They will keep going past the point that is safe, so it is on you to cut sessions short, choose shaded routes, and swap a run for sniffing and brain games on hot days.

Personality and summer walks

The big fluffy mop from the Dulux adverts. Warm, loyal, and absolutely determined to cover your house in hair.

Adaptable dogs adjust reasonably well when the heat forces walks earlier or later in the day, coping with a changed routine without much resistance. Intelligent dogs learn to seek out cool floors and shaded spots on their own after experiencing a hot day, adapting their behaviour without much prompting from an owner. Sociable dogs want to keep engaging with people and other dogs at the park even in high heat, and that sociability can override the instinct to rest in the shade.

Heat, training and behaviour

Teaching a dog to settle in the shade

Old English Sheepdogs respond reasonably well to basic settle training, which helps on hot days when the aim is simply to keep the dog calm and off its feet during the warmest hours.

Barking and restlessness in a heatwave

Old English Sheepdogs bark a moderate amount day to day, and that can increase during a heatwave if the dog is uncomfortable and unable to settle properly.

Family and other pets in a heatwave

Old English Sheepdogs generally do well around children, though hot weather adds a job for parents: making sure excitable play with kids in the garden does not run on longer than the dog can safely handle. They typically share a house with a cat without issue, and both species tend to gravitate to the same cool spots during a heatwave.

Cost and ageing in hot weather

Old English Sheepdogs typically live 10 to 12 years, and older dogs of any breed regulate heat less efficiently than a fit adult, so senior old english sheepdogs need shorter, cooler outings and closer watching during a heatwave. Insurance for a Old English Sheepdog in the UK typically costs about £40 to £85 a month, and heatstroke is exactly the kind of sudden, serious vet visit that cover exists for. A Old English Sheepdog puppy, usually priced around £800 to £2000, overheats more easily than an adult dog as well, since puppies have less developed temperature regulation and tire without always showing it.